Device for tensioning yarn



DCC- 27, 1949 c. B. KINGSBURY DEVICE FOR TENSIONING YARN Filed Deo. 2Q, 1947 2,] MMI/(qv Y. Illy Patented Dec. 27, 1949 DEVICE FOR TENSIONING YARN Chadwick B. Kingsbury, Elizabethton, Tenn., as-

signor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 20, 1947, Serial No. 793,004

7 Claims.

This invention relates to twisting machines and more particularly to twisting spindles of the kind adapted to impart two twists to the yarn, thread or the like, undergoing twisting, for each revolution of the spindle.

In double twist spindles of this kind the spindle per se revolves but the yarn package from which the yarn is drawn does not. The yarn is withdrawn from the stationary package and passes downwardly through the hollow rotating spindle, emerges from a port in a storage wheel at the lower end thereof and then passes outwardly around and in spaced relation to the yarn package where it forms a so-called balloon due to the high rotational speed of the spindle. The twisted thread then passes to a suitable takeup device, usually through a guiding or gathering eye. The size of the ballon thus formed depends primarily upon the rotational speed of the spindle, the speed of thread takeup and uponl the denier of the yarn undergoing twist. For a given denier the spindle speed is adjusted to give the desired balloon size. Two type of balloon are used in the art, one being the free balloon and the other a balloon of restricted extent. The ad-l vantage of a free balloon resides in the uniform pull or tension exerted on the delivered thread, which in turn results in uniform density of takeup package. Obviously, therefore, the high centrifugal force exerted on the thread during ballooning, as a function of the denier of the thread and spindle speed, influences the pull exerted upon the yarn as it is drawn from the supply package. Thus, a balloon of large denier thread would tend to draw the yarn from the supply package at a much faster rate than a balloon of comparatively small denier thread.

It has been proposed to insert adjustable braking or tensioning means in the path traversed by the thread on its way from the supply package to the ballooning zone, so as to regulate the flow of thread caused by the pull of the balloon on the thread as it is drawn from the package and it is desirable to be able to adjust such tension for threads of diiierent denier. However, although double twist spindle machines have been known for a number of years, their use has been restricted, largely due to lack of a reliable braking or tensioning means for controlling the tension \ap plied to the yarn prior to its passage through the spindle before forming the so-called balloon-like spatial conguration assumed on its way to the take-up device. It is recognized that if uniform tension produced by a reliably functioning and easily adjusted device could be constantly exerted upon the yarn during the twisting operation on double twist spindles, a far superior yarn possessing round and uniform twist could be obtained. Additionally, yarn as thus twisted would be completely free of thread loops and corkscrews. Furthermore, a variety of supply packages could be utilized in such operations since the supply package is maintained stationary during the operation of a double twist spindle. Attempts have already been made to provide tensioning devices for use with double twist spindles. but while many of the devices were satisfactory to a certain degree, they did not entirely solve the problem. Thus, devices have been used embodying felt-like materials and sponge rubber coated with spun glass cloth as contactual thread braking and tensioning elements. The maintenance problems and general unreliability accruing from such constructions however have precluded their large scale adoption,

Moreover, in double twist spindles of the free balloon type, the storage wheel at the lower end of the spindle, from a port or opening of which the thread emerges, serves for imparting a certain amount of tension to the yarn supplementary to that imparted by tensioning means provided, for example, in the cap, in the path of travel of the yarn previous to its emergence from the pore in the storage wheel. This supplementary tension depends on various factors inherent during a given twisting operation and cannot readily be controlled; its magnitude however is of importance when taken in conjunction with tension applied to the yarn before it emerges from the port of the storage wheel, and it is this last named tension which must be readily and reliably controlled to insure smooth operation of the spindle. However, proper co-relation between the tensions imparted by these two tensioning means has heretofore been difficult to attain.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages heretofore encountered t in the application of proper tension upon the yarn in a double twist spindle, the invention contemplating the use of a tensioning disc cooperating with a cap mounted upon the -stationary supply package holder. In one embodiment, light-weight interchangeable tensioning discs having very little inertia are utilized, such discs,

while coacting with the cap so as properly to ten.

sion the yarn being twisted, exerting no deleterious resistance to the passage of the thread thereunder in its passage through the spindle of the machine. The invention further contemplates the use of tensioning disc' elements of various weights which can be interchanged and replaced, as required, to vary the tension applied to the thread, depending upon the spindle speed, denier and other characteristics of the thread.

Another object of the invention is to shape the edges of the discs and position the discs by means.

of stems carried thereby and engaging into the yarn opening in the nosepiece of the cap surmounting the spindle in such fashion that the yarn drawn from the supply package approaches the cap throughout an arc of 360 and so that the shifting motion induced in the disc as the thread passes thereunder and around the stem reposing loosely within the opening in the cap, causes the disc to perform a nutational movement, in addi-- tion to which the yarn exerts a self-cleaning action upon the disc, stem and cap. Hence the thread, in unwinding over the end of the supply bobbin, continually wipes the nose of the cap and the tension disc and thus dirt particles, ily

. waste and the like cannot lodge between these `same purpose.

It is also an object of the invention to co-relate the tension produced at the cap or entry end with the pull produced by the thread as it emerges from the port in the storage wheel or emerging end when a free balloon is employed during twisting, such corelation being effected by the use of interchangeable discs of predetermined weight.

Another, still further object, is to provide for the quick and facile release and removal of the parts of the tensioning arrangement so as to permit easy threading of the spindle, ready removal of broken thread, slubs, and the like, and substitution of a tensioning element possessing given tensioning characteristics by another possessing other predetermined characteristics. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be manifest from the following detailed description When'considered in'connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a twisting spindle provided with the arrangement of the,

invention.

f Fig. 2 is a top view of a tensioning member suitable for use with the spindle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 -is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale of the top portion of the spindle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral I designates a package of untwisted yarn which ls mounted in position upon a holder II. Holder II comprises an upstanding bowl I2 having a base I3. The bowl encloses the lower portion of the yarn package but the wall thereof is spaced from the exterior of the package to permit the unwinding of the yarn therefrom. An inverted cup I4 is placed upon base I3 and engages within an annular groove I5 in the base. Cup I4 adjacent its lower edge abuts against shoulder I6, which forms one edge of the groove I5 whereby the cup is aligned in concentric position within bowl I3. Extending upwardly within inverted cup I4 is a raised hollow central pedestal I1 formed on base I3, and an externally threaded upstanding bossl I8 is formed integral with the pedestal. A central guide tube I9 is screwed upon boss I8 and extends upwardly through an opening in cup I4. Guide tube I9 is provided with an annular ilange 2I which engages the edge of opening 20 of the cup I4 for causing the cup I4 to nt tightly within groove I5 when the guide tube'is screwed in position upon the boss I8.

Guide tube I9 is tapered at its upper end as at 22 and is vadapted to receive thereover an inner annular boss 23 of cap 24. Cap 24 is of conical formation and is provided with-flanges 25 and 28,

respectively, providing a groove for engaging the upper edge of the yarn package holder. The construction is thus arranged properly to position and retain package III in aligned position with respect to bowl I2 and the opening provided within the pedestal projection I1 of base I3. As hereinafter pointed out, the package support portion of the spindle is normally maintained against rotation and the whole spindle normally reposes at an angle of about 25 to the vertical.

A hollow spindle 21 extends upwardly through tubular boss I8, pedestal I1 and terminates below the opening of guide tube I9. A roller bearing 28 is mounted within a recess in boss I8 and engages the interior wall thereof and the exterior of spindle 21 for maintaining the parts in position for relative rotation. A bearing 29 is arranged within pedestal I1, said bearing engaging the spindle 21 for maintaining the spindle in proper position with respect to base I3 at this point. Bearing 29 is maintained in position by spring ring 30 fitting in an appropriate groove and roller bearing 28 is maintained in proper elevation with respect to bearing 29 by means of coil spring 3|.

vSpindle 21 extends below base I3 and is there provided with a reduced portion 32 about which is encircled a bearing 33, the bearing being retained within an upstanding cup 34 of a nonrotatable bearing support 35. A pivot bearing 35 is provided at the lower end of the spindle, which bearing engages ilxed bearing plate 31 carried in the bearing support.

Bearing support 35 is adjustably positioned by means of nut 38 having a reduced section 39 extending downwardly through opening 40 in a pivoted bracket arm 4l. A washer 42 is placed over the lower end of the bearing support 35 and the support is held in position upon the bracket by means of lock nuts 43. A belt pulley or whorl 44 extends over a portion of spindle 21 and the upper portion of bearing support 35 and is integral with the spindle for rotation therewith. The whorl is adapted to engage and disengage a belt 45 in the manner hereinafter set forth. Reduced neck 46 of the whorl 44 is positioned upwardly within the opening in pedestal I1 of base I3 and it engages the inner race of bearing 29. Neck 46 is provided with three radial openings 41 which correspond to, and are in communication with, three openings 48 in the spindle. Openings 48 are in communication with the central opening 49 in spindle 21, the lower end of said central opening being ilared outwardly as at 59 to aid in the threading-up of the device.

Hub 5I of the thread-storage wheel 52 is fixed to the periphery. of neck 46 of the belt pulley or whorl and the storage wheel is provided with three radial openings 53 which communicate with openings 41. Storage wheel 52 is provided with an annular groove 54 which serves for the storage of yarn. Groove 54 communicates with openings '53.

Within reduced portion 22 of guide tube I9 is a recess 55 in which reposes a member provided with fur or plush-like material 56 constituting a yarn passage control means. Cap 24 is formed with a threaded central depression 51 into which nose 58 is screwed. Nose 58 has a flat surface 59 and a central opening 60. A thread tensioning member 6| reposes on nose 58 and is constituted as a disc 62 and stem 83, the latter fitting loosely within opening 60 of nose 58. Flat surface 59 of nose 58 is at least equal to, or slightly larger than, disc52. Disc 62 is provided with an up-turned marginal edge 64 and the disk is riveted to the moans:

stem at Il the bottom o! the disk being turned in at the center as at Il.

It is important that the surfaces of tensioning member 8| and of the nose 58 be maintained undistorted and free of pits as the application of tension to the yarn being twisted through the medium of the nose and the tensioning disc member is quite delicate. For this reason it is important, too, that stem 63 be accurately and securely maintained in position with respect to the disc 82. The stem 53 is therefore preferablyl 80 of cap portion 24 the top of member 8| serving additionally to guide the stem 63 in floating fashion, and the bottom of member 8| being flared to facilitate entry of the threading-up tool. Member 8| is retained in position by sleeve 82 which bears against a shoulder on member 8|, the structure being arranged to be assembled from the top.

A disc of the tensioning member which was found particularly efficient in operation was stamped from sheets of hardened metal approximately .015" in thickness. The diameters of the particular discs were 1.25" and the outer rims thereof were slightly curved as shown in the drawing. The hole designated as 61 in the drawing was stamped in each of the said discs to provide openings for the stems and the stems were rigidly and permanently secured in position in the manner shown. In order that the desired Weight for a particular operation be had, stainless steel stock of predetermined weight was utilized in constructing the stems and the stems were formed of a diameter to permit free floating of the same within the openings 50 in nose 58. It was found that stems which extend about 1/2" below the face of the disc were particularly suitable.

In order to drive the spindle 21, a series of idlers, one of which is illustrated at 68 are mounted to guide belt 45 in a path adjacent belt pulley or whorl 44. In normal operation the whorl 44 engages belt 45 due to the pivotal and pendulous swinging of arm 4| about an upper pivot |59. In inoperative position whorl 44 is disengaged from belt 45 and is held in a disengaged position by means of a. latch-out arrangement (not shown). 'I0 is a brake shoe operated by a bail 1| when it is desired to stop rotation of the spindle after it is disengaged from belt 45.

The package holder is mounted in position upon the stationary bearing support 35 entirely through the medium of the rotating spindle 21. In order therefore for the package to be maintained during normal operation against rotation, advantage is taken of the angular disposition of the package holder during operation of the spindle and a counterweight 'Iii is frictionally carried eccentrically of pedestal |1'by a tongue "IJ extending from a flanged sleeve 18 pivotally carried by the pedestal.

In threading up the twisting spindle, a tightly wound tension spring wire of about .10" diameter :is preferably used. It is'iinserted through one Y 6 of the openings 53 in the storage wheel 52 and is passed upwardly into the bore 49 of spindle 21. The wire is then forced upwardly through guide tube I9 and out through opening 60 in nose 58. The tensioning member is removed during the thread-up operation.

A loop of untwisted yarn from package I0 is connected to the projecting end of the wire and the yarn is then drawn downwardly through the interior of the nose cap and guide tube and then through the spindle and out through the opening in wheel 52 where it is disconnected from the threading-up wire and passed upwardly to a. centrally arranged guide positioned above the package. The thread is then passed to a takeup device of appropriate construction. At this time the tensioning member 6| is placed in position with its stem 83 extending into opening 60 of nose 58 adjacent the yarn. 'I'he spindle is then set in operation by engaging the whorl 44 with belt 45 as by releasing the latching device used for holding the spindle in inoperative position.

It is customary for the belt to be operated at a speed to cause the spindle to rotate at between 5000 and 10,000 R. P. M. The entire spindle unit carried by the pendulously pivoted arm 4| assumes a position tilted from the vertical and the counterweight 16 moves downwardly and tends to maintain the package support portion of the spindle in a relatively stationary position against rotation, although such support, including the yarn package, can turn or be turned manually relatively to the spindle, the latter meaning of course the whorl, storage wheel and the member 21. Due to the action of the take-up device (not shown) and the formation ofthe balloon, the yarn is drawn from the package I0 over flange 26 of cap 24 upwardly over nose 58 and between the flat surfaces of the nose and of the disc. Since the yarn is drawn off from convolutions of the package, the yarn approaches the nose 58 from an arc of 360 and is drawn between the nose and the'disc and downwardly adjacent the stem 63 where succeeding portions of the yarn move bodily about the stem and urge the stem out of alignment. This activity in progressively passing the yarn between the flat surfaces in approaching the nose from progressive positions throughout a 360 arc, and the engagement of the stem 63 in like manner, effects a wiping of the nose and the surfaces between the disc and the flat surface 59 of the nose, as Well as a cleaning of the wall defining the opening within the nose. Furthermore, nutation of the tensioning member results from this movement of the yarn. As the yarn passes between the tensioning member and grooved wheel 52 it is given one twist for each revolution of the spindle and as the yarn passes in the balloon between the wheel 52 and the centrally arranged guide it is given a similar twist for each rotation of the spindle. In this manner a two-for-one twist is imparted progressively as the yarn is passed from the package to the draw-off or collecting device.

It has been found that the use of a tensioning device of the character described not only maintains aproper balloon in the thread and a clean, uninterrupted operation, but the thread as twisted in such an operation has been found to be round, uniformly twisted and free of cockscrews. It has also been found that the tensioning member as thus described will operate for an indefinite period so long as itis not distorted or dented. It is therefore contemplated that'the tensioning disc member will be subjected to 'a hardening treat- 7 ment after the stem is secured to the disc so that it will be of such a degree of hardness that it will break before it will deform.

The yarn passage control member 55 which serves to restrict passage of the yarn through the spindle when the yarn breaks within the balloon or between the balloon and the take-up device, as well as the latching-out mechanism mentioned above and the brake device 10, 1l shown in Fig. 1 are not claimed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for tensioning thread comprising means defining a flat surface having a thread aperture therein, a disc-like body having a short stem projecting into said aperture and fitting loosely therein, a marginal ange extending away from the nat surface of said means, said body and said surface normally lying in contact but being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem.

2. A device for tensioning thread comprising means defining a flat surface having a thread aperture therein, a disc-like body having a short stem at right angles thereto, said stem projecting into said aperture and fitting loosely therein, said body also having a marginal flange extendtions throughout an arc of 360 and the thread is constantly subjected to tension, said cap surface and said disc-like body being susceptible of relative nutation during the passage of the thread therebetweenand through the aperture beside the stem.

ing away from the flat surface of said means,

the weight of said stem and body acting to urge said disc and said surface into contact, said surfaces being susceptible of relative nutation during the passage of thread therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem.

3. Thread handling mechanism including two membersl having contiguous flat portions, one of,

said members being provided with a thread outlet aperture located centrally thereof, a short stem extending from the other member and tting loosely in the aperture in the first member to provide for the passage of thread beside the stem, and a thread supply from which the thread is passed linearly into engagement with the two members for passage therebetween and through said aperture, whereby the linearly moving thread contacts the members progressively from positions throughout an arc of 360, one of said members being urged toward the other to provide a braking action to the thread as it is passed therebetween, the surfaces of said members being susceptible of relative nutation during the passage of the thread.

- 4. A device for tensioning thread comprising a frusto conical cap having a at upper surface provided with a central thread aperture, a disclike body having a short weighted stem attached thereto and depending from its lower surface, said stem extending into said aperture with sufficient clearance to permit free passage of the thread when the stem is in position, nd to permit relative nutation between said at upper surface and said disc-like body.

5. In a twister including a rotating spindle, a stationary thread support coaxially mounted thereover, said spindle having a central bore therein and a radial port at a point below the lower extremity of the support, the improvement that comprises; a frusto conical cap resting on said yarn support, the upper surface of said cap being flat and being provided with a central aperture in registry with the bore in the spindle, a disc-like body having an upstanding marginal flange and a depending short stem extending loosely through the aperture in the top of the cap, said stem and aperture aording clearance for the free passage of thread through the ap- 6. A device for tensioning thread comprising means defining a fiat surface having a thread aperture therein, a flat disc-like body having a short stem at right angles thereto and rigidly attached thereto, said stem extending into said aperture and being substantially guided thereby but fitting therein with sufficient looscness to permit said disc-like body to nutate on said horizontal surface, said disc-like body also having a marginal flange extending away from the flat surface of said means, the weight of said stem and body acting to urge said disc and said surface into contact, said surface and said disclike body being susceptible of relative nutation during the movement of said disc-like body engendered by passage of thread between said iiat surface, said disc-like body and through said aperture and alongside said stem.

7. In a twister including a rotating spindle, a stationary thread support coaxially mounted thereover, said spindle having a central bore therein and a radial port at a point below the lower extremity of the support, the improvement that comprises; a frusto-conical cap resting on said thread support, the upper surface of said cap being iiat and being provided with a central aperture in registry with the bore in the spindle, a ilat disc-like body having an upstanding marginal flange and a rigidly attached depending short stem extending into the aperture in the top of the cap and tting therein in substantially guided fashion but with sufficient looseness to permit said disc-like body to nutate on said fiat surface of said cap, said stem and aperture affording clearance for the free passage of thread through the aperture when the stem is in position and the weight of the stem and the disc-like body serving to urge said body toward the surface of said cap to cause said surface and said body to function as a thread brake whereby the thread approaches the disc-like body progressively from positions throughout an arc of 360 and is constantly subjected to tension.

CHADWICK B. KINGSBURY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: f

.UNITED STATES PATENTS 

